We are facing problem of corrosion in Kerosene stripper reboiler. This stripper is used to remove light cut from the feed kerosene to a normal paraffins plant. The feed kerosene contains 600-2500 ppm of organic sulfur. Column bottom temperature is 230-240°C. Heating media is hot oil at 325°C and is on the tube side. Tubes have integral fins on the external surface. Corrosion is more prominent on these fins. We are suspecting high temperature sulfidic corrosion to be the cause of corrosion. Seek your views please. Regards Shashank

Material of construction is Carbon steel. Regards Shashank

Shashank Fins help in better heat transfer in heat exchangers. Try aluminized steel tubing for this problem. Not sure if alumninized finned steel tubing will be available readily in the market. If available, this will give more life than present carbon steel finnned tubing. Desulphurization is a major capital investment proposal. This cannot be done in isolation for a refinery. I believe that considering the cost / likely capital investment for desulphurization for a refinery, aluminized steel tubing will give you better life for this problem. Trust this is of help to you C.V.Srinivasan Nishi Engineers Pvt Ltd India Oct 13, 2005 E-mail:nishi@vsnl.com >YES it could be the most probable cause. CS are suceptible >to High T "S" attack and thus often overlayed by SS 410. >Fins are increasing the surface area and thus more prone to >attacks. May be the case that bottom sections fins are more >damaged. Solution - either desulphurise the kerosene before >entry in the reboiler or redign fin by ss 410 overlayes. >Others may pl. contribute. >regards >DM